Hydro-mechanical continuum modelling of fluid percolation through rock salt

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Florian Zill - , Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Freiberg University of Mining and Technology (Author)
  • Christoph Lüdeling - , Institute of Rock Mechanics (Author)
  • Olaf Kolditz - , Chair of Applied Environmental Systems Analysis, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (Author)
  • Thomas Nagel - , Freiberg University of Mining and Technology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (Author)

Abstract

Salt caverns for storing renewably produced hydrogen underground pose a promising option to reduce CO2 emissions by improving the utilization of volatile renewable energy sources. Rock salt limits the infiltration of hydrogen into the storage cavern walls due to its favourable low permeability. However, pressure-driven percolation may create discrete pathways for the fluid and damage the cavern. Depicting this effect accurately in simulations may be crucial for assessing the long-term stability and integrity adequately. By introducing an extension to a deformation-dependent permeability model by Alonso, Olivella and Arnedo (2006) we can capture the non-linear feedback between salt deformation, permeability development and fluid migration using continuum models. Based on a quasi-isotropic arrangement of potential flow paths the model is able to reproduce pressure-driven percolation of hydrofrac experiments on rock salt specimens in terms of breakthrough pressure as well as preferential path orientation and locality. The model is implemented in the scientific open-source framework OpenGeoSys.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number104879
Journal International journal of rock mechanics and mining sciences : RMMS
Volume147
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2021
Peer-reviewedYes

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • Hydro-mechanics, Hydrogen, OpenGeoSys, Percolation, Rock salt